Bersin: Mexican drug violence threat major concern

By ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN, The Associated Press
2:02 p.m. July 15, 2009

NOGALES, Ariz. — The federal government's border czar says ongoing concerns that drug-related violence in Mexico poses a threat to American communities remain the Obama administration's border focus.

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Alan Bersin, who visited Arizona's busiest commercial port here on Wednesday, says those concerns have triggered a series of border security initiatives and brought about closer cooperation with Mexican federal authorities.

Bersin says DHS officials take the threat of spillover violence seriously and are prepared to respond with contingency plans. But he says there has been no spillover yet. Still, he said there's significant violence in the United States related to the activity of illegal immigrant and drug smuggling.

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